Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia “will not end this war without pressure” in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
He noted that, while he believes that this upcoming winter could be difficult for Ukrainians, his army will make Russia’s winters difficult as well.
“Ukrainians understand that this winter could be very harsh for us. But in response, we will have no choice but to make it painful for Russia too,” he said.
“No Russian official ever imagined that ‘Army General Winter,’ which had fought on Russia’s side for centuries, would one day switch sides and support those defending themselves from Russia. We will make that happen this winter if Russia continues to target our energy system and our heating,” Zelensky said.
He also called for robust diplomatic efforts to help de-escalate the war before winter sets in.
Zelensky then called Russian President Vladimir Putin “patient zero” and added that “the longer Putin is able to wage war, the more evil he will leave behind in this world.”
He also stressed that more sanctions against the Kremlin were needed, along with continued support for Ukraine.
“Yes, sometimes it may seem that Ukraine is focused only on war because we speak about weapons, we speak about defense, and sanctions against the aggressor. But Ukrainians did not choose this war. We choose not to die, not to lose our country, our families, not to lose our independence, our freedom,” he said.
Shortly before Zelensky addressed the assembly, Russia launched an attack on Kyiv, killing at least two people.
The attack lasted from morning into the evening in one of the heaviest strikes since Russia began hitting Kyiv and nearby areas with faster and high-flying jet drones that are harder to intercept.
“Every such attack happens because the pressure on the aggressor has never become total, and Russia believes it can continue to bet on ballistic terror,” Zelensky said.
“Right now, the United States has an opportunity to respond strongly. We need ballistic interceptors to protect lives.”
Zelensky also revealed that Ukrainian troops recently captured two North Korean soldiers, but sent them to South Korea.
“One of them, when he realized he was going to be taken prisoner, tried to kill himself. He was shocked that fate didn’t let him die. This is how they raise people in the north,” he said.
South Korea did not confirm any details about the North Korean soldiers out of concern for their families still inside the DPRK.